My name is Karen Shettler Paddock.
I am dead. I committed suicide on August 7th 2013, as I could no longer stand the excruciating headache caused by Intracranial
Hypotension due to Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leaks. A condition that is more common that many think (for example Actor George Clooney had/has a CSF Leak and considered suicide), yet is so unknown that some doctors argue the condition does not even exist.

It has been estimated that ten percent of the 30,000,000 suffering from
migraine headaches, per day, are actual suffering from this condition, that is
three million (3,000,000) people per day!

Not even my love for my husband Bob, who maintains this site on my
behalf, love for my dog Garth and
family, could no longer keep me going, which is how powerful the pain
from a CSF Leak/IH can be.

See My Story for my complete
medical history so that you do not have to repeat our mistakes and
will get the correct treatment that you need. People tell Hubby they
are in tears by the time they reach the end of
My Story.

“I used to be an avid runner, but am grateful that once a year I have been able to participate in our city's annual 4-mile. This is the second year that Karen's strength and knowing the pain she went through for so long has kept me going and my daughter joined in too. So this is for you Karen Shettler Paddock… - 2014”

“I was a
passionate runner prior to my csf leak. This year I wanted to
participate in our city's annual 4-mile run/walk event. I really
didn't think I could do it, but it was Karen's story that kept me
going. She went through so much for so long, that I knew I could
endure some pain to honor her.This one is for you, Karen Shettler Paddock.” - Janelle Hermes
Hibiske - 2013

The photos are taken at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, IN, which is where the finish line is for the events.

My Journal may now be ordered in book format so that you may put it into the hands of your family and doctor.

If you would like to share your own story, medical images etc, or you
wish to contribute tips and information to help others, or comment on
My Story, please contact Hubby and
he will set up an account for you. Sadly attacks from automated Spam
Bots has made self registration impossible.

Major topics are listed in the sidebar on the left. There is a lot more information to be found in the Sitemap.

While there may be doctors and links to medical information on this
site, a lot of the information here has come from a persons own hard
won self education due to lack of support of the Medical
Establishment. Independently validate for yourself any information
from this site with authoritative sources, as you should do with
any information found on Internet.